REFORT OF THE DIRECTOR 73 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



1 No. 5. Analysis of the (air-dried) grass or hay Ammophila arenaria from Sable 

 Island, chiefly barren stems : — 



p. c. 



Moisture 12-42 



Protein 13 -SI 



Fat -81 



Fibre 41-00 



Carbo-hydrates 26-71 



Ash 5-25 



100 



1 In protein or albuminoids this grass makes a very good showing, being quite 

 equal in respect to these important nutrients to many of our highly esteemed culti- 

 vated grasses. 



' The percentage of fibre is above the average, and this together with the somewhat 

 high protein, necessarily makes the carbo-hydrates (starch, sugar, &c.) much lower 

 than usual. This hay contains 5 -25 per cent ash or mineral matter, which on further 

 examination is found to include 1 -37 per cent of sand. This sand had remained at- 

 tached to the grass in spite all care being taken to separate it. 



' The indications are that though probably somewhat less digestible than the best 

 hays made from grass cut before seeding, this Sable Island grass has a distinct and 

 even moderately high feeding value due to its comparatively speaking large protein 

 content.' 



The results obtained by Mr. Shutt are very interesting and valuable. The ponies, 

 of which there are four bands numbering about 120 in all running wild on the island, 

 feed almost entirely on this grass which looks tough and hard and does not impress 

 one as likely to be very nutritious. The ponies, however, do well on it, and even the 

 domestic cattle use it considerably, although they are said to prefer timothy and clover. 

 The fact that this grass has a decided nutritive character is now demonstrated. 



ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL FERTILIZERS. 



Realizing at the outset that it was probable that the soil of some of the sites which 

 might be chosen for tree planting on the island would be deficient in the elements of 

 fertility needed for the healthy growth of trees, a sufficient quantity of artificial ferti- 

 lizers was taken to Sable Island with the trees. These included nitrate of soda, muriate 

 of potash, superphosphate of lime with a few barrels of quick lime. Instructions were 

 left with the Superintendent as to the use of these after the trees were planted, and the 

 proportions in which they should be mixed. That after mixing they should be diluted 

 with an equal bulk of sand and scattered in small proportion over the ground once a 

 month for three months, leaving a small portion of each plantation untreated for com- 

 parison. This would probably give the trees at the start sufficient plant food for healthy 

 growth. 



A NATURAL SOURCE OF PLANT FOOD. 



There is one source of plant food on Sable Island which should not be overlooked. 

 Sea birds are most abundant there. After travelling over the greater part of the island 

 and seeing the immense number of terns everywhere, from a rough computation of the 

 number per acre and the acreage of the island we estimated that these birds alone did 

 not fall far short of a million on the island. They feed on small fish, and they are so 

 Incessantly active that they consume large quantities and their droppings are seen on 

 tvery hand. This perennial source of fertility must have its effect. Like the guano 



